View Vacancy – Head of Sector Consumer Goods (Food and Drink and Retail) North America; Toronto, New York, LA

The British Government is an inclusive and diversity-friendly employer. We value difference, promote equality and challenge discrimination, enhancing our organisational capability. We welcome and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. We do not discriminate on the basis of disability, race, colour, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, age, veteran status or other category protected by law. We promote family-friendly flexible working opportunities, where operational and security needs allow

About the Department for International Trade in North America

You will join the Department for International Trade which promotes exports to the North American continent of British goods and services, two way investment between the UK and North America, and mutual improved market access to help grow our bilateral trade. (See www.gov.uk/DIT for further information).

Within British Embassies, High Commissions and Consulates across North America, the Department for International Trade has 150+ members of staff spread across 14 locations, forming a dynamic team that focuses on various sectors including advanced engineering, technology, financial services, life sciences, food & drink, retail and energy & environment. The North America team works closely with our Headquarters teams in London, regional and local colleagues, representatives of the three Devolved Administrations of Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales, with a key objective of driving transatlantic trade and foreign investment into the UK. This is an exciting time to work for the Department for International Trade (DIT). Our mission is to promote British trade and investment across the world which is vital for the prosperity of the UK. DIT brings together export promotion, investment attraction and market access policy work to break down barriers to trade and investment to help businesses succeed.

This is a great opportunity to be part of an international team that contributes to the success of the UK’s trade goals.

Main Purpose of Role

This is a challenging and rewarding job. The jobholder needs to provide strong leadership of a high-performing sector team, good judgement in prioritising competing demands and keeping their teams focused on the delivery of the North America network’s strategy and objectives. They will also need strong communication and influencing skills and commercial awareness in order to perform their client-facing role and be credible with senior stakeholders in business and government.

The Head of Sector contributes to the implementation of DIT’s Regional Trade Plan for North America and is specifically responsible for developing the Integrated Sector Plan and agreeing targets and strategy for the Food and Drink and Retail sectors.

Roles and responsibilities:

Leadership and   Management

• Provides strategic leadership for the North America Food & Drink and Retail sector team through the development of a NA-wide Integrated Sector Plan, in consultation with UK sector teams, policy and wider UK Government Departments (Defra, Science & Innovation networks, UK Research Institutes, etc.).
• Drawing on sector expertise, provide thought leadership for the Consumer Goods sectors within the UK Government, and in conjunction with Trade Policy colleagues, seek to influence trade policy in the UK as it relates to the sectors.
• Drives strategic discussion for their sector in short, medium and long term and serves as primary docking point for UK Sector Directors and London HQ
• Leads on and coordinates the business planning process for the Food & Drink and Retail sector team in consultation, liaising with the other sector leads (particularly AEM), UK sector teams, policy and other UK Government colleagues.
• Leads on resource planning for the Consumer Goods sector team, reporting in to the Senior Leadership Advisory Group.
• Provides in-person support across North America, including other geographical regions in which they are not based, around major events, VIP visits, key account management or high value investment and export deals.
• Co-ordinates sector-related Learning & Development based on training needs of the Consumer sector team.
• Manages sector budgets to within 1% of overall allocation.
• Work closely with the DIT Regional Director in their local post to provide regional leadership including in support of Consul General and Deputy Consul General engagement, to develop and deliver regional trade and investment strategies, and to provide corporate leadership for the wider DIT team at Post.

Delivery

• Accountable for delivering the North America Integrated Sector Plan and meeting DIT targets (e.g. Exports and Foreign Direct Investment). Maintains and regularly reviews progress against targets with team members including investment and export pipeline reviews.

• Demonstrates strategic leadership working with partners in the Network on matters relevant to the businesses ranging from the UK-US Free Trade Agreement (FTA), the UK’s climate ambitions including Presidency of COP26, and UK-US collaboration to ‘build back better’ following the Coronavirus pandemic. This includes working with business to gather intelligence, supporting policy colleagues to tackle market access barriers, influencing businesses on commitments to net-zero, and collaborating to identify and build long-term strategic economic initiatives to underpin innovative economies of the future.

• Proactively works with Strategic Communications and Marketing to initiate, develop and implement sector plans including digital campaigns, PR and collateral development to ensure DIT maximises impact from successful investment and export wins, and showcases UK leadership and innovation in key sectors.
• Leads the team in building and maintaining strong relationships with US and UK business leaders, trade associations and other key partners, to support UK prosperity and economic growth. Work in collaboration with DIT and other UK Government Departments, to showcase the benefits of the UK/North America economic relationship to external audiences.

• Leads on key account management of existing and potential high value investors and trade partners, at CEO/Board level from North America for the Consumer Goods sectors ensuring effective frameworks are in place and responsibilities agreed with other senior leaders across the network including Consuls-General, Deputy Trade Commissioners, Regional Directors etc., and that business intelligence is used to inform business planning and pipeline development.
  

Resources managed (staff and expenditure):

• Strategic leadership of North America Consumer Goods sector Team (14 staff).
• Financial responsibility for multiple programme activities from various sources including other Government Stakeholders and commercial sponsorships.
• Management of local team running cost budgets.  

Essential on arrival:

• Postgraduate degree and/or undergraduate degree.
• At least 10 years professional experience, gained within a business or economic development role.
• At least 5 years leadership experience.
• Proven competence in leading strategy development and business planning
• Proven advisory and influencing skills at senior levels –able to express ideas and messages clearly and concisely, both orally and in written communication.
• An understanding of international relations and UK Government policy. Ability to build, manage and foster a highly productive, team-oriented, agile culture.
• Ability to influence others and gain buy-in at the team, peer and executive level.
• An excellent network of industry contacts in the Consumer Goods sector and the ability to develop new networks, including demonstrating the ability to develop strategic relationships with senior industry figures.
• Proven experience delivering creative and innovative solutions to business challenges.
• Excellent interpersonal, presentation and networking skills.